Dritan Abazović
Дритан Абазовић
Official portrait, 2022
Prime Minister of Montenegro
In office
28 April 2022 – 31 October 2023
President
Deputy
Preceded byZdravko Krivokapić
Succeeded byMilojko Spajić
Minister of Foreign Affairs
Acting
21 October 2022 – 31 October 2023
Prime MinisterHimself
Preceded byRanko Krivokapić
Succeeded byFilip Ivanović
Deputy Prime Minister of Montenegro
In office
4 December 2020 – 28 April 2022
Prime MinisterZdravko Krivokapić
Preceded by
Succeeded by
  • Vladimir Joković
  • Raško Konjević
  • Jovana Marović
  • Ervin Ibrahimović
Parliamentary offices
Member of Parliament
In office
14 October 2012 – 4 December 2020
Personal details
Born (1985-12-25) 25 December 1985
Ulcinj, SR Montenegro, SFR Yugoslavia
(now Montenegro)
Political partyUnited Reform Action (2015–present)
Other political
affiliations		Positive Montenegro (2012–2014)
Alma mater
OccupationPolitician
Signature
Websitedritan.me

Dritan Abazović (Cyrillic: Дритан Абазовић, Albanian: Dritan Abazi; born 25 December 1985) is a Montenegrin politician who served as Prime Minister of Montenegro and as acting Minister of Foreign Affairs from 2022 to 2023. An ethnic Albanian, he heads the United Reform Action party. He previously served as deputy prime minister in the cabinet of Zdravko Krivokapić from 2020 until 2022.[1]

Abazović is the first ethnic Albanian and first Muslim to have served as Prime Minister of Montenegro.

Early life, education and early career

Abazović was born on 25 December 1985 in Ulcinj, Montenegro.[‡ 1] Abazović is an ethnic Albanian.[2] Having finished elementary and secondary school in Ulcinj, he graduated at the Faculty of Political Sciences at the University of Sarajevo, becoming a valedictorian and winner of the "Golden Badge" and "Golden Charter" of the University of Sarajevo.[3] He obtained a master's degree in international relations from the University of Montenegro Faculty of Political Sciences in 2008.[4] In 2019, he finished his PhD in the Faculty of Political Science at the University of Sarajevo, having defended his doctoral dissertation titled "Global Politics—Ethical Aspects of Globalization".[5]

He has worked as a high school teacher in Ulcinj, teaching the sociology of culture, communication and the history of religion.[3]

From 2005 to 2007, he was an assistant at the Faculty of Political Science at the University of Sarajevo. In 2009, he completed the course for the Study of Peace at the University of Oslo. At the same university, he completed a seminar for professional development.[3] In 2011, he resided in the United States while participating in the State Department program in Washington, D.C. From 2010 to 2012, he was the executive director of the local broadcasting company Teuta, as well as the NGO Mogul, both centered in Ulcinj.[3]

In 2010, he published his first book titled Cosmopolitan Culture and Global Justice.[6]

He has held lectures at various prestigious universities, including Harvard University, University of Oxford, University of Cambridge, Columbia University, LUMSA University, Tulane University, University of Belgrade etc.[7]

Political career

Opposition (2012–2020)

Abazović was one of the founders of the social liberal political party Positive Montenegro in 2012.[8] At the 2012 Montenegrin parliamentary election, the party won 7 out of 81 seats, leading to Abazović becoming the youngest member of the new convocation of the Parliament of Montenegro.[9]

In 2014, following a split in the party, Abazović left Positive Montenegro, serving as an independent MP before joining the newly founded United Reform Action (URA) in 2015.[10] He is currently the president of URA and served as one of its parliamentary representatives from 2015 to 2020.[4]

In June 2020, delegates from thirty-eight European countries voted at the XXXI Congress to admit Civic Movement URA to the European Green Party, making Civic Movement URA the first opposition party in independent Montenegro to join a family of European parties.[11]

On 11 July 2020, the Civic Movement URA decided to run independently, presenting its centre-left election platform under the name In Black and White. The list was led by independent candidates, including well known journalist and activist Milka Tadić, several university professors, journalists, civil society and NGO activists. Abazović was the ballot carrier of the list, as the leader of URA.[12] The URA electoral list also included one representative of the Bosniak minority interests SPP party, as well as several minor local initiatives.[13]

The 2020 parliamentary elections in Montenegro achieved the first democratic change of government in the history of the country. Abazović's electoral list won four mandates, which proved to be crucial in unseating the Democratic Party of Socialists (DPS) led by Milo Đukanović after 30 years.[14][15] Abazović, on behalf of URA, and the leaders of the lists For the Future of Montenegro and Peace is Our Nation, Zdravko Krivokapić and Aleksa Bečić, agreed during a meeting on several principles on which the future government would rest, including the formation of an expert government, a continuation of the European Union accession process, the fight against corruption and overcoming the polarization of Montenegrin society.[16] They invited minority parties of Bosniaks and Albanians, wishing to form a large coalition government, which the minority parties would ultimately decline.[16] After the election, Abazović's interview with Professor Kenneth Morrison was published by the London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE).[17]

Deputy Prime Minister of Montenegro (2020–2022)

Abazović alongside U.S. Deputy Secretary of State Wendy Sherman, 19 October 2021

On 4 December 2020, the new big tent cabinet of Montenegro was elected by 41 out of 81 members of the Parliament of Montenegro, and independent politician Zdravko Krivokapić became the new Prime Minister of Montenegro, with Abazović as Deputy Prime Minister in charge of security sector coordination and national security, formally ending three decades of DPS rule in the country. The new cabinet vowed to dismantle the state apparatus built by the DPS, and root out corruption and organized crime.[18] In January 2022, Abazović was appointed as a member of the advisory board of the Institute for Freedom of Faith and Security in Europe.[19]

On 5 January 2021, Abazović revealed that the company "Global Montenegro", owned in part by President Milo Đukanović, was in a 12.45 million euro debt to the state and that there were no more "untouchable" officials.[20] The following day, construction and casino magnate with alleged ties to organized crime Brano Mićunović was apprehended in Budva. Abazović congratulated the police and National Security Agency for the action.[21] Mićunović was released on 8 January to be allowed to prepare his defense.[22]

Following the violent clashes that erupted in Cetinje during the enthronement of the new Metropolitan of Montenegro and the Littoral Joanikije Mićović on 5 September 2021, tensions erupted in the ruling majority. The following day, Deputy Prime Minister Abazović, Interior Minister Sergej Sekulović and police chief Zoran Brđanin were accused of being against the event being held in Cetinje by several media outlets, with Democratic Front (DF) leader Andrija Mandić and Democratic Montenegro MP Danilo Šaranović echoing their remarks.[23] Prime Minister Zdravko Krivokapić announced an internal investigation into the events, refusing to comment on the potential dismissal of Sekulović and Brđanin. On 7 September, DF leader Nebojša Medojević called on the two to resign, claiming they were part of a conspiracy designed to return the DPS to power by violent means.[24] The following day, Abazović said that the government was crossing a "red line", warning that the dismissal of Sekulović would lead to him retracting support from the government and working to overthrow it.[25] The cabinet of Prime Minister Krivokapić declined to issue a statement on the matter until the internal investigation was finished.[26] On 1 November, following a closed meeting of the Security and Defense Committee, Abazović reiterated his support for the security sector, saying they had "preserved the peace, which was the area of highest risk". Minister Sekulović also defended his actions during the first meeting of the committee on 27 September.[27] These events signaled the "beginning of the end" of Krivokapić's government, eventually leading to it being toppled in a no-confidence vote several months later.[28]

Premiership (2022–2023)

Abazović in a press conference with Finnish Prime Minister Sanna Marin, 20 June 2022

On 3 March 2022, President Đukanović asked Abazović to form a new government following a no-confidence vote in early February against Krivokapić.[29] On 28 April, Montenegro's parliament approved a new government composed of a broad coalition of both pro-European and pro-Serb parties, with Abazović as Prime Minister.[30] Abazović told lawmakers the new government's main focus will be the reforms required by the EU so that Montenegro can ask to speed up its accession process in the light of the new situation created by the Russian invasion of Ukraine. He added that government priorities will be the fight against corruption, more sustainable investments and development, protection of the environment and better care for children and youth.[30]

On 20 August 2022, the Parliament of Montenegro passed a motion of no confidence against Abazović's government, which ended his premiership.[31] He remained in power as a caretaker prime minister pending the formation of a new government.[32]

Personal life

Abazović is an ethnic Albanian[33] and a Muslim.[34] Besides his native Albanian, he is also fluent in Serbo-Croatian and English.[4] In 2017, he signed the Declaration on the Common Language of the Montenegrins, Croats, Serbs and Bosniaks.[35]

Honours

Honorary degrees

Prof. Dr Anastas Angjeli and Prof. Dr Adrian Civici presenting Abazović the honorary degree at the Mediterranean University of Albania

Other awards

Bibliography

Books

  • Kosmopolitska kultura i globalna pravda (en.Cosmopolitan culture and global justice) (2009)[45]
  • A Critique of Global Ethics (2022)[46]

References

  1. ↑ "Montenegro Elects First Government Without Djukanovic Party". Balkan Insight. 4 December 2020.
  2. ↑ "Dritan Abazovic, the third Albanian Prime Minister in the Balkans". 28 April 2022.
  3. 1 2 3 4 "Dritan Abazović Biografija". Biografija.org (in Serbian). 10 September 2020. Retrieved 29 April 2022.
  4. 1 2 3 "Predsjednik". URA. Archived from the original on 27 March 2019. Retrieved 29 April 2022.
  5. ↑ "Dritan Abazović doktorirao u Sarajevu". www.cdm.me.
  6. ↑ "Promocija knjige mr. Dritan Abazi "Kosmopolitska kultura i globalna pravda"". Lajme nga Ulqini (in Albanian). 3 March 2010. Retrieved 29 April 2022.
  7. ↑ "Abazović danas na Oksfordu". DAN. 23 May 2023. Retrieved 29 June 2023.
  8. ↑ "Osnivački kongres Pozitivne CG 26. maja: Vrijeme političkih promjena". vijesti.me (in Serbian). Retrieved 29 April 2022.
  9. ↑ "DA LI ZNATE KOLIKO GODINA IMA DRITAN ABAZOVIĆ? Patosiraćete se". espreso.co.rs (in Serbian). Retrieved 29 April 2022.
  10. ↑ Janković, Srđan (15 October 2014). "Frakcija isključena iz Pozitivne, partiju napustio i Abazović". Radio Slobodna Evropa (in Serbo-Croatian). Retrieved 29 April 2022.
  11. ↑ "Evropski delegati odlučili: URA primljena u Zelene Evrope". vijesti.me (in Serbian). Retrieved 29 April 2022.
  12. ↑ Šta piše i ko je potpisao platformu "Crno na bijelo": Smjena vlasti će izroditi drugačiju Crnu Goru, Vijesti
  13. ↑ "SPP Hazbije Kalača podžala Platformu Crno na bijelo". vijesti.me.
  14. ↑ "Objavljeni konačni rezultati parlamentarnih izbora u Crnoj Gori". N1 Srbija (in Serbian (Latin script)). Retrieved 24 September 2020.
  15. ↑ Nedeljnik.rs (30 August 2020). "Dritan Abazović, nosilac liste "Crno na bijelo": Pobedili smo mafiju, svima neka je srećno. Crnu Goru treba da vodi ekspertska vlada..." Nedeljnik. Retrieved 24 September 2020.
  16. 1 2 "Montenegrin opposition agrees on expert government, revision of disputed laws". N1. 31 August 2020.
  17. ↑ Science, London School of Economics and Political. "Dr Dritan Abazovic in conversation with Professor Kenneth Morrison". London School of Economics and Political Science. Retrieved 14 October 2020.
  18. ↑ "Krizu prevazići reformama i znanjem", Radio Televizija Crne Gore (RTCG), 2 December 2020
  19. ↑ "Dr Dritan Abazović". Institute for Freedom of Faith & Security in Europe. Retrieved 10 April 2022.
  20. ↑ "ABAZOVIĆ ODGOVORIO MILU: Providno je tvitnuo, ali nije demantovao dug od 12,4 miliona evra". kurir.rs (in Serbian). Retrieved 5 January 2021.
  21. ↑ "Mićunović određeno zadržavanje do 72 sata, Abazović: Svi jednaki pred zakonom". Radio Slobodna Evropa (in Serbo-Croatian). 6 January 2021. Retrieved 4 May 2022.
  22. ↑ "Brano Mićunović pušten da se brani sa slobode". Danas (in Serbian). Beta. 8 January 2021. Retrieved 4 May 2022.
  23. ↑ Kajošević, Samir (6 September 2021). "Montenegro Opposition Accused of 'Coup Attempt' Over Cetinje Riots". Balkan Insight. Podgorica. BIRN. Retrieved 3 May 2022.
  24. ↑ Kajošević, Samir (7 September 2021). "Montenegro to Probe Police Role in Orthodox Church Unrest". Balkan Insight. Podgorica. BIRN. Retrieved 3 May 2022.
  25. ↑ Kajošević, Samir (10 September 2021). "Deputy PM's Threats Shake Montenegro's Fragile Coalition Govt". Balkan Insight. Podgorica. BIRN. Retrieved 3 May 2022.
  26. ↑ Šćepanović, Lela (10 September 2021). "Crna Gora: Premijeru bez većine prijete konačnim rušenjem". Radio Slobodna Evropa (in Serbo-Croatian). Retrieved 3 May 2022.
  27. ↑ "Bez novih detalja nakon rasprave u 'gluvoj sobi' o događajima na Cetinju". Radio Slobodna Evropa (in Serbo-Croatian). 1 November 2021. Retrieved 3 May 2022.
  28. ↑ Janković, Srđan (3 May 2022). "Pod istragom policajac koji je obezbjeđivao Joanikija i Porfirija na Cetinju". Radio Slobodna Evropa (in Serbo-Croatian). Retrieved 3 May 2022.
  29. ↑ Milic, Pedrag (3 March 2022). "Montenegro PM-designate named to form pro-Western government". ABC News. Retrieved 4 March 2022.
  30. 1 2 Vasiljevic, Stevo (28 April 2022). "Montenegro approves new minority government focused on joining EU". Reuters. Retrieved 28 April 2022.
  31. ↑ Stevanović, Vojislav (19 August 2022). "Skupština Crne Gore izglasala nepoverenje vladi Dritana Abazovića". N1 (in Serbian). Retrieved 20 August 2022.
  32. ↑ Borger, Julian (25 September 2022). "Montenegro's PM says organised crime used influence to oust him over raids". The Guardian. Retrieved 18 October 2022.
  33. ↑ "Ko je Albanac Dritan Abazović i kako od njega zavisi budućnost u Crnoj Gori". Telegraf (in Serbian). 31 August 2020. Retrieved 28 April 2022.
  34. ↑ "Eid al-Fitr, Abazovic Prays at Ulcinj Mosque". ALBANIA DAILY NEWS. 20 May 2022. Retrieved 1 November 2023.
  35. ↑ Signatories of the Declaration on the Common Language, official website, retrieved on 16 August 2018.
  36. ↑ "Univerzitet Luarasi u Tirani proglasio Abazovića počasnim doktorom: Poseban doprinos interkulturalnim vrijednostima". Vijesti.me. Retrieved 28 June 2023.
  37. ↑ "Lecture by Prime Minister of Montenegro, HE Dritan Abazovic". Swiss-UMEF.ch. 9 October 2022. Retrieved 28 June 2023.
  38. ↑ "Universiteti Mesdhetar i jep titullin "Doctor Honoris Causa", kryeministrin Dritan Abazović: Ruajtës i paqes dhe dialogut në rajon". KohaJone.com. 13 January 2023. Retrieved 28 June 2023.
  39. ↑ "Universum International College nderon kryeministrin e Malit të Zi, Dritan Abazoviq me çmimin "Doctor Honoris Causa"". Telegrafi.com. Retrieved 28 June 2023.
  40. ↑ "Our University awarded an Honorary Doctorate to the Prime Minister of Montenegro, Dritan Abazovic". Medeniyet.edu.tr. Retrieved 28 June 2023.
  41. ↑ "Malliotakis presents Certificate of Special Congressional Recognition to Abazović". GOV.ME. Retrieved 28 June 2023.
  42. ↑ "Abazović honored as honorary citizen of New Orleans, awarded the Honorary Ambassador of Louisiana". GOV.ME. Office of the Prime Minister. Retrieved 29 September 2023.
  43. ↑ "Abazović is an honorary citizen of New Orleans and ambassador of Louisiana". Vijesti. 23 September 2023. Retrieved 29 September 2023.
  44. ↑ "Prime Minister of Montenegro Dr. Dritan Abazović received a special IFIMES award". Diplomat Magazine. Retrieved 3 October 2023.
  45. ↑ "Dritan".
  46. ↑ "A Critique of Global Ethics | Hardcover".

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